State Budget: Clock Ticking, Still Waiting

Oh sure there is rule that the budget had to be done last week. But who needs rules?

Our fearless leaders in Harrisburg have been so busy debating a pay raise for themselves, creating "Jimmy Buffet Day" and fighting for the right of every citizen in the Keystone State to buy a case a beer on Sunday, that the whole budget thing just seemed so unimportant.

Rendell said Monday night that an "agreement in principle" had been reached on the budget, even though not all the spending details were resolved. That's kind of like being a "Governor in theory" isn't it?

The 2005-06 budget is overdue, and if the budget isn't approved by both houses and signed by Rendell by Monday, some state employees will have to be furloughed for lack of money to pay them! Part of this whole mess is a proposed pay raise for legislators. The raise would be $10,000 for rank-and-file lawmakers and as much as $20,000 a year for committee chairmen. Lawmakers now make $69,647 a year.

Both the House and Senate recessed last night without voting on a new budget. Maybe the state should just start working now on the next budget and take a year off from spending any money. I can dream can't I ?????????????

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